Trojka hands over FERK, responsible for regulating electricity, gas, and oil markets, to HDZ BiH

(Patria) - Trojka is handing over the Energy Regulatory Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FERK) to HDZ BiH. Namely, the Government of the Federation of BiH, at an emergency session at the end of March this year, adopted a Decision on the appointment of candidates for members of FERK, whose mandate should last for five years. According to that act, two out of the three proposed members of FERK will go to HDZ BiH, writes Istraga.ba

“The Government of the Federation of BiH proposes to the Parliament of the FBiH the appointment of candidates for members of the Energy Regulatory Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for a five-year term, as follows:

“Samir Hadžihuseinović, from the Bosniak people, Sanela Pokrajčić, from the Croat people, and Vesna Marić, from the Serb people,” the Decision of the FBiH Government states.



Samir Hadžihuseinović is a long-time cadre of SDP BiH from Konjic who also served as a minister in the HNK Government. Sanela Pokrajčić has been a member of FERK for years and is a cadre of HDZ BiH. Vesna Marić, an employee of Elektroprijenos BiH in Mostar, is also a cadre of HDZ BiH. Therefore, if the Parliament of the FBiH confirms this proposal of the FBiH Government, HDZ BiH will have a majority in FERK to make all decisions. We note that the current members of FERK are Jasmin Bešo (SDA cadre), Sanela Pokrajčić (HDZ), and Mile Srdanović (DF). However, Nermin Nikšić's Government is now handing over control of this agency to HDZ BiH as well.

After Christian Schmidt imposed the FBiH Government at the end of April last year, the new coalition adopted the Law on Energy and Regulation of Energy Activities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2023. According to that Law, the President and Vice-Presidents of the Federation of BiH were stripped of their authority to propose members of FERK. These authorities, which had been held by the President and Vice-Presidents of the FBiH for years, have now been transferred to the Government of the Federation, which proposes new members of FERK to the Parliament. However, what is particularly important in this story is the increase in the powers of the Energy Regulatory Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.



“The general competencies of the Regulatory Commission are: a) issuing licenses for performing energy activities, b) supervising energy entities to which it has issued a license, c) adopting tariff methodologies and determining prices and fees, d) prescribing conditions for third-party access to distribution systems, e) adopting and approving bylaws and other acts within its jurisdiction, f) participating in the implementation of incentive systems for the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency improvement systems, g) adopting binding decisions on matters within its jurisdiction, h) resolving disputes between market participants, i) initiating misdemeanor proceedings and issuing misdemeanor orders. (2) The competencies of the Regulatory Commission are regulated in more detail by special laws governing the sectors of electricity, natural gas, petroleum products, thermal energy, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency. (3) The Regulatory Commission shall perform the tasks within its jurisdiction in accordance with the objectives prescribed by the Energy Strategy and the Action Plan,” reads the Law on Energy and Regulation of Energy Activities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Therefore, Trojka is handing over FERK, which is responsible for regulating the electricity, gas, oil, and renewable energy markets, to HDZ BiH. This is because decisions in FERK are made by a majority of votes, meaning that the two members from HDZ can outvote the SDP member of the Commission.